Family vacations travel guide

2 min summary Types Best time to go Map & highlights Things to do Alternative family vacations Age guidance Solo parent travel Tips All our family guides

Family vacations travel guide

The family vacation comes with a lot of baggage, and not just the packing kind. It is, for many, the only time loved ones really get time to relax together, and so the pressure is huge. Which is why so many of them can end in tears before bedtime. Or indeed before booking. This family vacations travel guide aims to lessen the load from the word go.

As a travel writer and a mum, I am always cornered in the school yard about where to go, what to do, and if I think granny will enjoy it too. So, here it all is, in one guide.

- Catherine Mack, guide author at Responsible Travel

It will not only inspire you with lots of new ideas but will also help you narrow down the choices from a world of family fun, to a mountain lake in Montenegro, island-hopping by kayak in Croatia, a wildlife cruise in the Galapagos Islands, trekking in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains or a husky sled ride through the frozen wilds of Finnish Lapland. Follow the tips in our family vacations travel guide, and the process of choosing a family vacation will be like the difference between carrying a 25 kg bag, bursting at the seams with loads of stuff you don’t need, and a super cool carry on one. Baggage? What baggage?

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What we rate & what we don't

Underrated

Other Spain

Most people can reel off more destinations in Spain than for most other countries. But for every place you’ve heard of, there are a dozen more that you haven’t. Every village has a fiesta, a fine and friendly restaurant, a genuine welcome for families, and a plaza or two to sip a cafe con leche. And with the country covered with coast, mountains or forest, there’ll be excellent landscapes to match – with no other tourists.

Leaving your comfort zone

Family vacations that include the word ‘activity’ are not all about adrenaline, but more about stepping out of the comfort zones many of us have unwittingly built around our children. Unwrap all that cotton wool by hiking to an Alpine peak, or wild camping in a canyon, while feeling the fear just a little. Or mountain biking back down and watching grizzlies in the wild. And feeling the fear just a bit more.

Having a guide

Let’s face it, when you’re in charge of a hiking or biking expedition with your children, there are always tears somewhere along the way. A good family guide knows exactly how to keep a family inspired and interested, no matter how old they are. So, no more domestics over map reading, tantrums over treats, or kids declaring ‘This is sooo boring’. Expert guides love their jobs, and their love is always infectious.

Family wildlife vacations

There are lots of family safari opportunities, but more specific wildlife watching vacations can be tailor made to cater for different age ranges. Follow giant tortoises on the Galapagos Islands and go kayaking the next. Or see Rajasthan’s tigers in the morning and explore an ancient fort in the afternoon. Seeing nature’s wonders is spectacular, but holding your loved ones in your arms as you do so is the icing on the cake.

Rated

Hiking en famille

The idea of a walking vacation is always going to take a bit of selling to children. From toddlerhood on that instinct to just say ‘carry me’ can take time to wear off. However, throw in a safari camp, a donkey to carry your bags, a mountain yurt or a swim at the end of each day and the walking bug will kick in. Combine it with some kayaking and horse riding, and you’ll have converts for life.

Bizarre beds

Not only is it fun to stay in unique and funky accommodation, but because they are often created by people who have ambitious visions when it comes to responsible tourism. And hearts of gold, not just green, when it comes to hosting. Such as an eco yurt vacation in Lanzarote, a tree hotel in Sweden, a ryokan in Japan, a cave in Andalucia, a houseboat in Kerala or a luxurious beach cabin in Tobago.

Small group vacations

If a family vacation makes you nervous about packing and planning, let it go. Many of the ones that we feature are small group vacations, where everything is organised for you – by experts who totally get family needs. All the equipment is provided, so no battling with bike carriers or stuffed-to-the-brim roof boxes. Or worrying about how to get from A to B. Just pack and go.

Family cycling vacations

A family cycling vacation is a double whammy of wondrousness. First of all, all of the logistics are taken care of on your behalf, so you don’t need to spend hours taking bikes on and off bike carriers, or finding the safest route from place to place without heading into a load of trucks. Second, the joy that you get watching your children gain that sense of freedom is second to none.

Overrated

Disney

There is no doubt that it brings smiles to many people’s faces, but with so little time to enjoy together as a family these days, trust us - the smile on your child’s face as they go white water rafting, kayaking or, for something different, walking across the Alps with a donkey as their favourite companion in the world, is so much better than the cartoon alternative. Which, let’s face it, is all a bit Mickey Mouse.

Performing animals

Whether it is orcas in captivity, walking with lion cubs or riding on elephants, all of these animals are performing. And to perform they have to conform. And to conform, many of them are treated in the most unethical and destructive ways. Such outings are often disguised as being important for conservation reasons, but there are so many alternatives to protecting species than getting them to perform for our pleasure.

Kids clubs

If you or your children have grown out of ‘kids’ clubs’ or, indeed, you never liked them in the first place, there are so many vacation activities out there. Swap face paint for real mud on a mountain biking expedition in Catalonia, or swimming pool games for wild swimming among Montenegrin waterfalls. Get away from the cold, clinical concept of clubs, and go a bit wild. Feral is the new fun.

Family cruises

Apart from the fact that these floating, all inclusive hotels are environmentally dubious and disengaged with local communities and economies, the idea of taking on a climbing wall in the middle of an ocean, or jumping into a pool in the middle of the Med is not even soft adventure, it is downright unsustainable squishy. You don’t need a bigger boat. Just a bigger imagination.

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Call toll free

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Child reviews from family vacations

When I told my friends that I had been walking in the Alps with a donkey during the summer, they laughed. Five minutes later, after seeing the photos and hearing the stories, they all wanted to go too.

– Hugo, 10 years old

“We have been on a few family cruises because my parents love them, and granny comes too. But last year we changed and went on a sailing vacation in Scotland which was amazing. Granny got a crush on the skipper, so when he suggested she went in a kayak with him, she did!” – Maisie, 8 years old

“On our vacation in Thailand, we spent a night sleeping on a floating bungalow on a river raft in the Khao Sok National Park. I was a bit scared at first, because I knew we were in the jungle, but actually it was really sick.” – Jahim,10 years old

“It was brilliant to really have a laugh with my parents on vacation. They usually try and do board games and stuff like that to have ‘family time’ – but mountain biking together and then jumping into a gorgeous lake at the end of the day was so much better. Montenegro was our best family vacation ever.” – Kate, 11 years old

“I was never into rugby, cricket or football really. Then I went kayaking in Turkey when I was 12. I was hooked straight away, and I have spent my last two summers helping out on a kayaking summer camp. Kayaking is just cool.” – Louis, 15 years old

More about Family

When to go on a family vacation

When to go on a family vacation will often depend on when school’s out, however, take a glimpse at our best times for family vacations worldwide chart and you'll quickly realise there is a vast number of potential destinations available to you whenever you plan to get away.

Family vacation types

The family vacation types listed on the page below include adventure vacations, small group, independent, accommodation only and family walking vacations so all you have to do is find out what our experts recommend and then take your pick of the bunch.

Best family vacation destinations

The best family vacation destinations are always the ones where you spend time together because you want to rather than because you have to.

Family vacation activities

We think that trying something new should be the essence of family vacation activities with a carnival of animals, the beaches of Sri Lanka and life in the family fast lane all helping you to make up your mind or just dive in and make a big splash.

Alternative family vacation ideas

Mountains, rivers and animal encounters all feature throughout the photos of family vacations we love and if you’re looking for a few more then have a flick through our album and prepare your kids to get excited.

Childrens ages for family vacations

We’ve compiled advice on striking the balance when it comes to recommended children’s ages for family vacations with baby friendly, five to eight, eight to twelve and teenagers all getting a mention alongside expert advice from our experienced family vacation suppliers.

Solo parent travel

As anyone that’s done it will know, traveling as a single parent or guardian comes with its own unique set of challenges.

Tips and advice on Family vacation

We’ve got loads of family vacation tips that revolve around keeping everyone happy so if you’re looking to find out what our experts: Jonny Bealby, Amanda Marks and Marijana Filipvic, have to say then read on to find out how to travel safely on your family vacation.

All our family guides

Find all of our family guides in one place, for all the different types of family vacations including families with teens and family volunteering or for destinations to take your families to such as Morocco, Costa Rica, India, Croatia and many more.